Peptide and protein therapeutics are important drug candidates due to their ubiquitous nature as biological molecules, as well as their ability to control all aspects of cellular function along with many facets of intercellular communication. CEM Corp.’s

Liberty Blue automated microwave peptide synthesizer will streamline the peptide
synthesis process for pharmaceutical, biotech and academic researchers, enabling
them to produce peptides for drug discovery and studies in the field of life sciences in
a manner that is more efficient, cost effective, faster and better for the environment.

The Liberty Blue utilizes a high-efficiency solid-phase peptide synthesis
(HE-SPPS) process that allows peptides to be synthesized in higher purity, up to
six times faster than first-generation microwave peptide synthesizers and 25 times
faster than in a conventional system and with a 90% reduction in solvent usage.

The instrument features 31 chemical reservoir positions, of which 29 are added byFlex-Add pressure-based delivery technology. It is operated by a PC software packagewhich allows users to specify a desired peptide sequence, calculate reagent usages, print reports and customizeany method conditions needed for the synthesis. The software also features self-diagnostics and automatedcleaning routines. These advantages allow peptides to be synthesized within an hour, instead of one day.

◗ CEM Corp., www.cem.com

A Solid ChromatographyColumn Solution

Due to the nature of their morphology, solid-core particles
hold the potential for higher efficiency when compared to fully
porous particles of a similar particle size. As observed and
noted in many journal articles, previous attempts to pack sub-

Waters Corp. has designed CORTECS 1.6 µm Columns to pairseamlessly with UPLC system technology to deliver the highest performance yet for reversed-phase andHILIC separations. CORTECS features a new, patent-pending charged surface modification that improvesthe peak shape and loading capacity of basic analytes when run in low-ionic strength acidic mobile phases,such as 0.1% formic acid. Such mobile phases are preferred when using electrospray mass spectrometrydetection. The efficiency of the CORTECS column at 1.4 mL/min is the same as a fully porous column at

0.45 mL/min. Operating at a higher flow rate, a CORTECS column allows analyses to be completed in a
shorter time without sacrificing resolution or data quality.

The current
evolution to
high cell density
and high-prod-uct titer cell
cultures is placing a
larger burden on
traditional downstream clarification and purification operations. To
alleviate this bottleneck, various types of pretreatment are employed to make the clarification process
more efficient.

When these methods are used, a shift in particle
size distribution of the feed stream occurs, making conventional depth filtration inefficient. EMD
Millipore’s Clarisolve depth filters are specifically
tuned to the particle size distribution of various
pretreatment methodologies, enabling a fast and
efficient way to clarify high-density streams and easily transfer processes from upstream to downstream
without the use of centrifugation.

The Clarisolve includes graded layers having
various pore ratings with the application in primary
clarification for polymer and chemically treated flocculated feeds and directed toward disposable primary clarification process.

◗ EMD Millipore, www.emdmillipore.com

microTLC Fills Gaps in Detection

Filling major gaps in field testing for explosives and narcotics, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s
micro TLC is a miniaturized, field-portable thin layer chromatography (TLC) kit used to detect and identify
unknowns. Originally developed to identify military explosives, the device has been modified to also identify
and determine the purity of illicit drugs, pesticides and other compounds. The detection platform measures

1.5 x 2 in and requires about 3 min for identification. Chemicals and standards are self-contained in an environmentally friendly form that requires only battery power. No calculations or operator interpretation are
needed, and easy step-by-step on-screen instructions are provided. The simplicity of the design makes it ideal
for both field and laboratory applications involving forensics, first responders and military diagnostics.

The micro TLC kit is unique as it uses aluminum-backed reverse-phase C18 TLC plates to identify
unknowns, which is superior to phase silica gel plates normally used in this technology. The sample is
extracted with solvent and then efficiently spotted onto the plates, which are then placed in the developing
chamber with the developing solvent suspended in Cab-O-Sil. Development takes only 2 or 3 min. After a
drying time of only 10 to 15 sec, the plates are then examined under UV light for identification of the suspect materials compared to the pre-spotted standards.

◗ Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, www.llnl.gov

Synching Water QualityResults

Industrial Test Systems’
eXact iDip is the first
water testing photometer
that provides seamless
data transmission and
live syncing of test
results using Bluetooth
at an affordable price.

The eXact iDip communicates with the iDip
App on a corresponding smart device via a power-efficient wireless
Bluetooth Smart connection. The app is used as the
main control panel. In order to begin testing, users
fill the 4-mL built-in cell with the water sample.

Users then introduce the appropriate eXact Reagent
strip into the water sample for 20 sec, which releases the chemical reagent that reacts with the analyte
in the sample tested and causes a color change.

A specific wavelength LED passes a beam of light
through the water sample to a receiving sensor on
the opposite side. The receiving sensor then detects
the percentage of light transmitted through the
sample and relays this value to the iDip App.